```json
{
    "title": "What is Vaisnava Sanga?",
    "url": "https://wavesofdevotion.com/2008/01/29/what-is-vaisnava-sanga/",
    "datePublished": "2008-01-29",
    "dateModified": "2008-01-29",
    "language": "en-US",
    "description": "January 29, 2008 Sri Vrindavan Dhama What is Vaisnava Sanga? I just returned from a very spiritual uplifting pilgrimage to Sri Jagannatha Puri. I felt I got a taste of…",
    "author": "Dhanurdhara Swami",
    "publisher": "Waves of Devotion"
}
```

# What is Vaisnava Sanga?

**January 29, 2008**

*Sri Vrindavan Dhama *

**What is Vaisnava *Sanga*?**

I just returned from a very spiritual uplifting pilgrimage  to Sri Jagannatha Puri. I felt I got a taste of

*gaura-lila*

, not just the

*bhava*

of the devotees towards the Lord, but the open spirited devotion between the  devotees in

*gaura-lila*

themselves. In  that sense, I think I can speak for everyone who attended. We realized that by  intensely focusing on

*kirtan*

,

*gaura-katha,*

and mutual service to the

*sanga*

, we tasted a drop of what Sri  Caitanya’s

*sanga*

in Puri must have  been like. I’ll try to communicate that experience by discussing the  realizations I gleaned about Vaisnava

*sanga*

from our

*sanga*

:

Vaisnava

*sanga*

is  an assembly of devotees mutually dedicated to the assembly’s objective -  the glorification of the Supreme Lord.

As all members of the Vaisnava

*sanga*

are focused on that objective, personal objectives become  secondary.

Although the leaders and senior Vaisnavas may help guide the

*sanga*

, and are appropriately  respected, all participating members are deeply and equally valued as essential  members of the

*sanga*

.

Vaisnava

*sanga*

is  spontaneous. As much as practical, hierarchical or corporate structures of  authority are not externally imposed on the

*sanga*

,  but manifest genuinely out of the feelings of natural attachment and respect  for authority within the

*sanga*

.

The channel of relationships in a Vaisnava

*sanga*

is open due the trust among its  members.

*Sanga*

members thus get the  maximum benefit from each other’s insights, including the realizations of its  more spiritually mature members.

As mercy flows so freely in a Vaisnava

*sanga*

, a Vaisnava

*sanga*

naturally inspires humility in its members, which is the natural response to  mercy.

The activities (service) of a Vaisnava

*sanga*

are born from a humble mood of service and thus truly become

*seva*

, or devotional service.

As the members of the Vaisnava

*sanga*

are humble, they are constantly absorbed in

*nama-sankirtan*

.

A Vaisnava

*sanga*

is confident in the mercy it is experiencing within its

*sanga*

. The members welcome and value any visitor as long as they  sincerely want to serve the

*sanga’s*

objectives.

A Vaisnava

*sanga*

does fear Vaisnava

*aparadha*

. Its members deal very  carefully and respectfully with everyone.

A Vaisnava

*sanga*

is thus the yoga of association where members control their minds and lower  impulses out of respect and appreciation for the association and kindness they  are receiving within the

*sanga*

.

The duty of an

*acarya*

is to create Vaisnava

*sanga*

based on  the six loving exchanges of a Vaisnava. To assist in its development is the  best offering of service for his pleasure.

A Vaisnava

*sanga*

is most attractive. Sincere people will appreciate it. Pure devotees will  naturally gravitate towards it. It is the basis of spreading Vaisnava

*dharma*

.